The Third Hokage's Summons

It was already dark when Uchiha Rìtiān returned to Konoha.

He had barely entered the village when an Anbu ninja stopped him.

"Uchiha Rìtiān, Lord Hokage summons you."

Uchiha Rìtiān froze for a moment. The Third Hokage wants to see me?

He found out that quickly?

"All right, I'll go right away."

Uchiha Rìtiān followed the Anbu ninja toward the Hokage's office.

Along the way, he silently weighed things up.

The Third Hokage must have wanted to see him because of the Akatsuki incident.

He wondered whether Danzo had tattled on him.

When he reached the Hokage's office, the Third Hokage was sitting behind his desk, smoking a pipe.

Seeing Uchiha Rìtiān enter, the Third Hokage smiled.

"You're here, Rìtiān. Have a seat."

"Thank you, Grandpa Third." Uchiha Rìtiān obediently sat down, looking every bit the well-behaved child.

The Third Hokage looked at Uchiha Rìtiān, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes.

This kid acts like a little adult around everyone else, but he's quite well-behaved around me.

"Rìtiān, did you leave the village today?" the Third Hokage asked, getting straight to the point.

Uchiha Rìtiān nodded. "Yes, Grandpa Third."

"What did you go out for?"

"I heard there were Akatsuki members outside the village, so I went to take a look," Uchiha Rìtiān answered honestly.

The Third Hokage raised an eyebrow. "How did you know there were Akatsuki members?"

"I guessed." Uchiha Rìtiān blinked. "I just felt something was off, so I went to take a look. I didn't expect them to actually be there."

The Third Hokage stared at Uchiha Rìtiān for a long moment, then suddenly smiled.

"You really are a bold little rascal."

"Are Akatsuki members people you can just go provoking? What if something had happened?"

Uchiha Rìtiān scratched his head. "But I'm fine, aren't I?"

"Besides, I took care of all of them!"

The Third Hokage shook his head helplessly. "You..."

He took a document from a drawer and handed it to Uchiha Rìtiān.

"Take a look at this."

Uchiha Rìtiān accepted the document and read it, his pupils contracting slightly.

The document contained detailed intelligence on the Akatsuki.

The Akatsuki was a mysterious organization made up of rogue ninja from various nations. It had few members, but every one of them was powerful.

The organization's objective was unknown, and its operations spanned the nations.

"Grandpa Third, this is..." Uchiha Rìtiān raised his head and looked at the Third Hokage in confusion.

"This is all the intelligence we currently have on the Akatsuki," the Third Hokage said gravely. "This organization... is very dangerous."

"Rìtiān, the ones you encountered today were only their peripheral members."

"Every one of their true core members has Kage-level strength."

Uchiha Rìtiān was startled. Kage-level?

He had known the Akatsuki was powerful, but he had not expected it to be this powerful.

"Grandpa Third, why... are you telling me all this?" Uchiha Rìtiān asked in confusion.

The Third Hokage looked at Uchiha Rìtiān, his gaze serious.

"Because the Akatsuki seems very interested in you."

Uchiha Rìtiān's heart lurched. Just as I thought.

"Danzo has already told me about what happened today," the Third Hokage continued. "The Akatsuki was actually asking around about you."

"Rìtiān, tell Grandpa, have you had contact with Akatsuki members before?"

Uchiha Rìtiān hesitated, but still nodded.

"Once."

"When?"

"After Lord Danzo summoned me last time," Uchiha Rìtiān answered honestly. "I ran into an Akatsuki member on my way home. He said he wanted to recruit me."

The Third Hokage's expression grew grave.

"And how did you answer?"

"Of course I didn't agree!" Uchiha Rìtiān looked as though that went without saying. "I'm a Konoha ninja. How could I possibly join some Akatsuki?"

Seeing Uchiha Rìtiān's earnest expression, the Third Hokage nodded in satisfaction.

"Good. Good boy."

"Rìtiān, remember, no matter what the Akatsuki tells you, don't believe them."

"They're all dangerous people, understand?"

"I understand, Grandpa Third!" Uchiha Rìtiān nodded emphatically.

The Third Hokage smiled and ruffled Uchiha Rìtiān's hair.

"By the way, that 'Uchiha Convenience Services' of yours is doing quite well," the Third Hokage said, changing the subject. "Quite a few villagers have come to praise your Uchiha these past few days."

Uchiha Rìtiān's eyes lit up. "Really?"

"Of course." The Third Hokage smiled. "You really are a clever little fellow."

"Ding! 'Improve the Uchiha's Image' quest progress: 95%"

Uchiha Rìtiān was delighted. Only another 5% to go!

"Hehe, I'm only doing what I should." Uchiha Rìtiān scratched his head bashfully.

"Ding! Successfully showed off in front of the Third Hokage. Show-off points +100!"

The Third Hokage laughed heartily. "You're quite modest, too."

"All right, it's getting late. Hurry home. Your parents must be getting worried."

"Okay. Goodbye, Grandpa Third!"

Uchiha Rìtiān bowed respectfully, then turned and left.

After leaving the Hokage's office, Uchiha Rìtiān let out a sigh of relief.

The Third Hokage really was a good person, completely unlike that scheming old bastard Danzo.

Just then, a system notification sounded.

"Ding! 'Improve the Uchiha's Image' quest progress: 100%!"

"Quest complete!"

"Rewards: Mangekyō Sharingan Evolution Clue Fragment x1, show-off points +500."

"Current Mangekyō clue fragments: 2/3"

Uchiha Rìtiān's eyes lit up. Completed!

Just one final fragment, and I can unlock the Mangekyō quest!

Fantastic!

Humming a tune, Uchiha Rìtiān strolled home.

Halfway there, he suddenly stopped.

Someone was standing ahead of him.

A person wearing a black coat and a bamboo hat.

The Akatsuki's liaison!

Uchiha Rìtiān's heart tightened. Why is he here again?

The man turned around, revealing a pair of eerie eyes.

"Uchiha Rìtiān, we meet again."

"What... what do you want?" Uchiha Rìtiān watched him warily.

The man smiled. "Don't be nervous. I'm only here to deliver a gift."

"A gift? What gift?"

The man took a scroll from inside his coat and tossed it to Uchiha Rìtiān.

"This is what you want."

Uchiha Rìtiān caught the scroll and opened it. His pupils contracted sharply.

Written on the scroll was none other than the method for awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan!

"How... how did you know I wanted this?" Uchiha Rìtiān stared at him in shock.

The man chuckled, a trace of eeriness in his laughter.

"I told you, we think very highly of you."

"This is your reward."

"A reward? What reward?"

"For... killing two of our peripheral members."

Uchiha Rìtiān: "..."

Huh?

I killed your people, and you're rewarding me?

Is your Akatsuki sick in the head?

The man seemed to read Uchiha Rìtiān's thoughts and smiled.

"The weak never had the right to live in the first place."

"If you could kill them, that proves you're stronger than them."

"The strong deserve rewards."

Uchiha Rìtiān's mouth twitched. What kind of twisted logic is that?

Still... this method for awakening the Mangekyō is genuine.

"Ding! Obtained Mangekyō Sharingan Evolution Clue Fragment x1!"

"Current fragments: 3/3!"

"Ding! All fragments collected. Mangekyō Sharingan Evolution Quest unlocked!"

"Quest objective: awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan under intense emotional stimulation."

"Quest reward: Mangekyō Sharingan (abilities to be determined)."

Uchiha Rìtiān was delighted. I finally unlocked the Mangekyō quest!

But... intense emotional stimulation?

In the original story, the Mangekyō only awakened after killing close family or friends.

Do I... have to follow that path too?

No, absolutely not!

Uchiha Rìtiān clenched his fists.

He would never hurt his family or friends for power.

Watching Uchiha Rìtiān's changing expression, the man smiled.

"What is it? Do you think it's cruel?"

"Power always comes at a price."

Uchiha Rìtiān raised his head, his gaze firm.

"I'll earn my power myself."

"I don't need to do it this way."

The man paused, then smiled.

"Interesting."

"I think more highly of you by the moment."

"Uchiha Rìtiān, I look forward to the day you join us."

As his words fell, the man's body began to blur.

"Oh, one word of warning."

"Danzo has started to suspect you."

"Be careful. Don't die too soon."

With that, the man vanished completely.

Uchiha Rìtiān stood there, his grip on the scroll tightening slightly.

Danzo suspects me?

Fair enough. My performance today really was a little too conspicuous.

But... so what if he suspects me?

I'll deal with whatever comes my way.

Would I, Uchiha Rìtiān, really be afraid of him?

Uchiha Rìtiān put the scroll away and continued home.

What he did not know was that shortly after he left, Danzo received word.

"Lord Danzo, that brat Rìtiān... did indeed make contact with the Akatsuki."

Danzo's eyes snapped open, his gaze sinister.

"Just as I thought..."

"There really is something wrong with that brat."

"Go. Keep a close eye on him."

"If there's any unusual activity, report it immediately!"

"Yes!"

Danzo stood up, walked to the window, and gazed out into the night.

A sinister smile curled his lips.

"Uchiha Rìtiān..."

"Are you an enemy or a friend?

"Soon, I'll know the answer."